Rapid antigen test

A rapid antigen test (RAT), or more commonly known as an Antigen Test kit, is a rapid diagnostic test. It can detect and find the presence and absence of antigens. Rapid tests usually give the results in 5 to 30 minutes.^[1]

Sometimes these tests give the wrong result (a false positive). For this reason, a test that gives a positive result needs to be confirmed by another test. That test must not be a rapid antigen test.

There are the different rapid antigen test kits, that are made to test for:

• HIV-1 & HIV-2
• SARS-CoV-2 & COVID-19 Antigen
• Flu A&B
• RSV
• Rabies Ag
• Pregnancy test (PT).

COVID-19 Antigen

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, The COVID-19 Ag test has been available. When the COVID-19 cases were increasing across the world, the COVID-19 and the SARS-COV2 kits were used to detect the virus. The "C" is for (control), the "T" is for (test), and no results means it is invalid.^[2]

Flu A&B

The Influenza test kits are used for people who are suspected of contracting the flu virus. A swab is taken for samples, like the COVID preemptive measures.

HIV-AIDS

The HIV/AIDS or HV-2 test is used to detect if a person may be infected with the HIV virus. The blood sample is taken and dropped 3 times into kit.

Pregnancy test

A pregnancy test (PT) is a kit that shows the possibility of pregnancy by taking a sample of urine. However these tests can be inaccurate and show a positive result because of infection (and blood in urine), hormones, or cancer. They might also show up positive for trans (originally male) people.

Rabies Ag

When the Rabies endemic began, the test kits antigen for rabies were also available for patients who were possibly infected with the rabies virus.^[3]

• Vaccine
• Wilderness, Concerts and festivals